(a) to ensure that Zimbabweans have access to information and effective control of mass
media services; and
(b) to receive and act upon comments from the public about the administration and
performance of the mass media in Zimbabwe; and
(c) to comment on the implications of proposed legislation or programmes of public
bodies on access to information and protection of privacy; and
(d) to comment on the implications of automated systems for collection, storage, analysis
or transfer of information or for access to information or protection of privacy; and
(e) to inform the public about this Act; and
(f) to engage in or commission research into anything affecting the achievement of the
purposes of this Act; and
(g) to conduct investigations in terms of Part IX to ensure compliance with the provisions
of this Act; and
(h) to advise the Minister on the adoption and establishment of standards and codes
relating to the operation of mass media; and
(i) to receive, evaluate for accreditation and consider applications for accreditation as a
journalist; and
(j) to enforce professional and ethical standards in the mass media; and
(k) to review the decisions of public bodies in terms of Part X; and
(l) to bring to the attention of the head of a public body any failure to meet the prescribed
standards for fulfilling the duty to assist applicants; and
(m) to authorise a public body, at the request of its head, to disregard requests that would
unreasonably interfere with the operations of the public body; and
(n) to accredit journalists; and
(o) to monitor the mass media and raise user awareness of the mass media; and
(p) to register mass media in Zimbabwe; and
(q) to investigate and resolve complaints against any mass media service in terms of the
provisions of this Act.
(2) In the exercise of its functions, the Commission shall have regard to the desirability of
securing the following objects—
(a) to foster freedom of expression in Zimbabwe;
(b) to make information easily accessible to persons requiring it;
(c) to ensure accurate, balanced and unbiased reporting by the mass media in Zimbabwe;
(d) the development of mass media that uphold professional and ethical codes of conduct;
(e) to promote the preservation of the national security and integrity of Zimbabwe;
(f) to foster a Zimbabwean national identity and integrity;
(g) to be responsible for enforcing and monitoring the enforcement of provisions of this
Act, and to ensure that its purposes are achieved.
(3) Subject to this Act, for the better exercise of its functions, the Commission shall have
power to do or cause to be done, either by itself or through its agents, all or any of the things

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